Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
A bipartisan resolution was introduced in the US Senate to recognise Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.
The resolution commends India for taking steps to defend itself against aggression and security threats from China.

Notes:
A preliminary report on the recent Yeti Airlines crash in Nepal revealed that the plane’s propellers were found in an unusual ‘feathered position’.
Feathering is part of the checklist that needs to be followed when faced with emergencies such as a forced landing. This report assessed that this might have occurred because of a human error. All 72 people aboard the plane, including 68 passengers and 4 crew members, lost their lives in the crash.

Notes:
Debt-for-nature swaps are financial arrangements where a fraction of a developing country’s foreign debt is waived, and in return, the country makes investments in local environmental conservation. Debt-for-nature swaps have been implemented successfully in many countries to promote environmental conservation. However, they are not seen as a long-term solution since only small portion of the debt is waived off.

Notes:
The Vertiplane X3 drone was used to carry out a demonstration in Uttarakhand, where it transported 2 kg of anti-tuberculosis drugs from AIIMS Rishikesh to a district hospital in Tehri Garhwal.
The demonstration covered an aerial distance of around 40 km in just 30 minutes. The drone is a ‘made-in-India hybrid’ e-VTOL with a maximum speed of 120 kmph. It was developed by Tech-Eagle Innovations.

Notes:
One of the most elongated asteroids, designated 2011 AG5, passed safely past the Earth at around 1.8 million kilometers.
It is an elongated asteroid with the similar dimensions of the Empire State Building was discovered for the first time in 2011. It is measured to be 1,600 feet long and around 500 feet wide.

Notes:
Delhi Government’s Feed Back Unit (FBU) was instituted in 2015. It is responsible for gathering ‘relevant information and actionable feedback’ related to the functioning of the government bodies and autonomous institutes in the Delhi government’s jurisdiction.
The FBU is also responsible for conducting sting operations or trap cases. Its personnel are known as intelligence assets and it directly answers to the Chief Minister’s Office. It is being criticized for being extra-judicial body that answers to only one individual.

Notes:
Glacial lake outburst is an occurrence where water is suddenly released from a lake that is dammed by a glacier, causing flooding downstream.
According to a study titled ‘Glacial Lake outburst floods threaten millions globally,’ around 15 million people around the world are vulnerable to the glacial lake outburst. More than half of the vulnerable population live in India, Pakistan, Peru, and China.

Notes:
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was established as a result of a 2012 agreement between India and China
Its main purpose is to facilitate regular and institutional exchanges between the two neighbours. Recently, the top official in India’s External Affairs Ministry visited China to attend the 26th WMCC. It was held in Beijing.

Notes:
Lake Garda, which is famed for its clear waters, is situated in northern Italy. The historically low waters of Lake Garda caused by a winter drought have led to an unusual phenomenon of a sand and stone causeway appearing to connect a small island to the mainland.
The decline in water levels is attributed to the warm temperatures, lack of rain in six weeks, and declining snow in the surrounding mountains.

Notes:
The Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) mobile wallet has been launched in Bhutan. During its launch, Bhutan’s Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck became the country’s first digital citizen.
This makes Bhutan government the first in the world to create a national digital identity system in a self-sovereign framework. Its aim is to provide citizens and residents with secure and verifiable identity credentials.